- Director: Zoë Kravitz
- Screenplay: Zoë Kravitz, E.T. Feigenbaum
- Cast: Naomi Ackie, Channing Tatum, Christian Slater, Simon Rex, Adria Arjona, Haley Joel Osment, Kyle MacLachlan, Geena Davis, Alia Shawkat
- Cinematography: Adam Newport-Berra
- Editing: Kathryn J. Schubert
- Score: Chanda Dancy
- Genre: Psychological thriller
- Runtime: 102 minutes
Whenever I heard the name Zoë Kravitz I always used to think: ‘nepo baby’. After watching ‘Blink Twice’ (‘controversially’ formerly known as ‘P*ssy Island’), I will regard her going forward as a ‘meticulous filmmaker’; she’s proved her worth with this directorial debut.
Frida (Naomi Ackie) and her friend Jess (Alia Shawkat) are invited to stay indefinitely on disgraced-yet-apologetic tech mogul Slater King’s (Channing Tatum) tropical island, possibly near Jeffrey Epstein’s private island. There, they join King’s (all male) friends and a trio of women on the isle and the days fly by. Endless champagne flows like rivers, expensive food is prepared for the guests nightly – it’s virtually paradise. But as the Eagles song ‘Hotel California’ goes – ‘you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave’. There’s something seriously wrong with this place as Frida soon finds out.
The movie acts as a powerful feminist statement – don’t let that put you off (it shouldn’t), it successfully conveys the core women-positive Me Too messages without coming off as preachy. Slater King and his boys club are emblematic of well-to-do men abusing their power over seemingly helpless women and the idea of forgiveness is dealt with in an eye-opening way.
The visual elements are stunning; there’s a stark contrast between the scenes set during the day (every colour of the rainbow, equally radiant) and those at night (with a dreamlike quality, where Frida and the girls run around the grounds of the estate). The use of bright hues (the plants, the fruits) helps to amplify the exoticness of the surroundings, the feeling of the location being beautiful and enticing – but it’s not your home, there’s a hidden danger lurking behind the facade.
Receiving second billing, Channing Tatum’s presence is felt throughout the film, but his crucial pieces are in the thrilling third act. However, this is Naomi Ackie’s moment, she gives a compelling performance as the scales begin to drop from her eyes and the horror unfolds.
My rating: 8 / 10
SilverScreen 